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Behavior Services

Animal Humane’s Behavior Department plays a pivotal role in the mission of Animal Humane by helping pets remain in their homes and increasing the adoptability of the homeless pets in our care. Our talented Behavior Team offers private and group behavior training classes to pet owners (and their dogs and cats). They also provide valuable behavior modification training to our pet residents in the form of enrichment and socialization activities as well as basic manners training.

All training classes are taught by our experienced Behavior Specialists, including two Certified Pet Dog Trainers.

The following services are provided by our Behavior Department:

Training Classes

We offer Dog Training Classes at three locations for your convenience. Animal Humane employs reward-focused training techniques designed to strengthen your relationship with your pet. Pet owners are taught how to reinforce good behavior and remove rewards to discourage inappropriate behavior. Animal Humane does not promote choke chains or prong collars. Rather, we offer instruction on humane training aids for you and your pet.

Behavior Seminars and Workshops

Free Private Consultations for Animal Humane Adopters

For Animal Humane adopters, we offer a free one-hour private consultation to discuss and offer solutions to behavioral issues you're experiencing with your new companion. Our coaches are certified trainers with years of experience working with all kinds of behavior issues.

During your consultation, we will discuss in-depth about your presenting issue(s) and provide you with a diagnosis and explanation of your pet's behavior, a personalized treatment plan and materials for proper implementation of management and training techniques. If dog training is recommended, we will provide area referrals.

If you are an adopter and are interested in scheduling an appointment with one of our coaches, please call Animal Humane at 505.938.7900. Prior to your consultation, we will collect basic information about your pet's issue(s), briefly explain the program and send you a questionnaire to complete.

Please note: If you are experiencing a behavior issue with your pet, please make an appointment with your veterinarian immediately. Sudden changes in behavior can be caused by underlying medical issues. A visit to the veterinarian can provide the relief your animal needs or rule out a medical cause to the behavior issue so that management and modification can begin.

Free Behavior Helpline

Animal Humane’s Behavior Helpline is a free service available to all pet owners who are experiencing behavior concerns with their dogs or cats. Our trained behavior coaches provide recommendations on everything from housetraining to living with multiple pets in one home.

If you do not reach a behavior coach via phone, please leave a message and your call will be returned within 24-48 hours. You may also email your questions to behaviorhelpline@animalhumanenm.org.

Canine SAFER® Evaluations

ASPCA’s Safety Assessment for Evaluating Rehoming (SAFER®) is a six-step aggression assessment test utilized by Animal Humane to evaluate the behavioral health of dogs entering our campus. All dogs six-months and older receive this basic testing. It is one tool along with relinquishment surveys, veterinary examinations and observations from our team and volunteers that help determine adoptability.

SAFER® was developed by Dr. Emily Weiss originally for the Kansas Humane Society of Wichita. Dr. Weiss’ research focused specifically on developing a set of assessment items that would better predict service dog potential in dogs selected from shelters. The SAFER® assessment identifies dogs’ comfort level with restraint and touch, reaction to new experiences including movement and sound stimuli, bite inhibition, behavior around food and toys and arousal level toward other dogs.

Shelters that employ SAFER® or other research-based behavior assessments report fewer aggression complaints, more adoptions and better interactions with the public.